28' cape Dory or 29 dyer

[guitarman]

I have been looking for a 26 to 29' boat to use for some coastal cruising on the pacific coast. i've been thinking about the Cape dory and the dyer 29.are there any other boats i should be thinking about. and which of these boat would be the better off shore boat?

 

[Sailorgp]

Right now I own a Sisu 26 which is a well regarded design. In the past I've owned (2) Cape Dory sailboats and I can tell you this...the Dyer has a better build pedigree. Cape Dory's are production boats. Dyer's are custom built with more craftsmanship and superior design. Just look at the price differential on the used market. I'm sure others on the board will chime in with their suggestions. If you can afford a Dyer...buy one.

 

[mattinri]

The Dyers are a very pretty boat unless you try to put a full cabin on them (the height looks out of proportion). The Dyer is also a narrower hull with a metal skeg extension to protect the prop. The Cape Dory is more traditional. Another boat in that size to consider is the General Marine - fewer of them around, but a great boat. My marina has hull #1 ("First Edition") of the Cape Dory

 

[MouseTrap]

The fly bridge cruiser version of the Cape Dory have a cult like following, with a reputation of being slow and steady.

 

[D12038]

General Marine on west coast

There is a GM 26 for sale in Santa Barbara I believe it is the Native

The Chandlery has the listing it was 67.000 I just saw somewhere it had dropped to $47000?? not sure what is up with that?it is a nice looking boat, very sparse down below​

It has a 200hp Volvo Diesel
Dee​

 

[eyschulman]

If you are on west coast look at Sam Devlin boats 26-30ft. Not DE but lots of character. some inboards-OB-and stern drives. He built a mess of them all custom they come up for sale used. You can go to his site Devlindesigning boat builders lots of pictures. These boats are well suited for NW cruising.

 

[guitarman]

Cape Dory

Thanks for the imput please keep the comments coming.
I'm really sold on the downeast semi displacement hull. that being said because of where i live in Montana I have to do some trailering no matter what I do. would a build down boat or skeg be to hard to trailer? I have the trucks to pull it but i would have to get a trailer. or should a guy consider like the new eastern 27 Islander its a semi displacement boat but is powered by out boards i don't think they are as good in rough water as say the cape dory. how about the duffy 26 or frontier? There is a 26 duffy with twin diesels for around 39995 seems a little low for a diesel boat. thanks for your thoughts

 

[Dr Dude]

26' Fortier

Thanks for the imput please keep the comments coming.
I'm really sold on the downeast semi displacement hull. that being said because of where i live in Montana I have to do some trailering no matter what I do. would a build down boat or skeg be to hard to trailer? I have the trucks to pull it but i would have to get a trailer. or should a guy consider like the new eastern 27 Islander its a semi displacement boat but is powered by out boards i don't think they are as good in rough water as say the cape dory. how about the duffy 26 or frontier? There is a 26 duffy with twin diesels for around 39995 seems a little low for a diesel boat. thanks for your thoughts

I have a 26' Fortier which I believe is a better boat than the others mentioneed. I've fished on a Dyer 29 many times and it's a great boat but it is very narrow and rolls like hell. The Cape Dory is rather slow and not as good in rough water as a Fortier.
The Fortier is wider and has a sprayrail that extends to the chine and makes the boat extremely stable in rough seas.
I have a 26 Fortier listed on this site if you are interested (Fortier 26 freshwater boat, Michigan)

 

[guitarman]

ya i took a look at it nice boat, I need more of a cabin here in the north west a boat that has a pilot house or can be made into one thanks though

 

[steveinak]

Thanks for the imput please keep the comments coming.
I'm really sold on the downeast semi displacement hull. that being said because of where i live in Montana I have to do some trailering no matter what I do. would a build down boat or skeg be to hard to trailer? I have the trucks to pull it but i would have to get a trailer. or should a guy consider like the new eastern 27 Islander its a semi displacement boat but is powered by out boards i don't think they are as good in rough water as say the cape dory. how about the duffy 26 or frontier? There is a 26 duffy with twin diesels for around 39995 seems a little low for a diesel boat. thanks for your thoughts

I trailer my 29' H&H(skeg built) all the time. The boat came cross country on that trailer from Rockport Mass to Seattle then came up here on a barge. You should be fine with a smaller lighter boat. Boat has a 300hp John Deere in it.

 

[guitarman]

nice boat thanks for the reply, what style of trailer is that ? and how do you like the H@h?

 

[steveinak]

nice boat thanks for the reply, what style of trailer is that ? and how do you like the H@h?

The boat does everything i want it to do, its a little tank. I use it for the commercial shrimp pot fishery in prince william sound, carries gear and ice well, i cruise 15 knots @ 2100rpm (wot is 2600) and burn 8 gals/hr. If i run it at 1500 i'm going 10knots at 5gal/hr.
The trailer was built for it by Loadmaster Trailer in port clinton ohio and they delivered it to Rockport. Great folks to deal with and from what i've seen i got a great deal on it compared to what others quoted me and most of the trailer builders i talked with didn't want to build a trailer for a DE boat. Loadmaster never flinched they even called H&H to get measurements for the build.

 

[snowstorm]

i looked at several cape dorys. ended up with a 28 ellis. it was less money and in very nice condition.

 

[guitarman]

How do you liked the ellis? what can you tell me about the ellis why did you buy it over the cape dory?

 

[snowstorm]

How do you liked the ellis? what can you tell me about the ellis why did you buy it over the cape dory?

well they are still in bussiness for one thing. i looked at 4 cape dorys 1 gas i didnt want that the other 3 all had issues 1 was only 100hp old electronics on all of them one came with the flybridge but it was all in peices. i have seen some cape dorys that looked real nice. robinhood marine told me they have the rights to the larger cape dory. my ellis is a 28 flybridge 84 when built it had a bmw now its volvo power. its not fast but its real easy on fuel

 

[guitarman]

what do you think of the eiiis 28

 

[Robert M]

Looks like your gonna have to plan a trip. You gotta a lot of sea trials to go on.
The advise on this site is top notch. I understand there isn't a lot of de's in your area , which has got to be tough, but were gonna have to set up some boat rides for you on this side of the pond.

 

[guitarman]

ya I know I would like that. I'm Just trying to learn as much as i can before i make another trip over to do that. Im thinking the general marine and the 28 seaworthy for two are on my short list sound like the cape dory may not be on my short list all though i like there full cabin. thanks for all your help